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Pocock set for long-awaited return

By RugbyPass

Wallaby flanker David Pocock will make his long-awaited return to action this weekend after being named in the Brumbies team to take on the Waratahs on Saturday.

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Pocock will notch his 100th Super Rugby match, after playing 69 with the Western Force before joining the Brumbies in 2013.

Pocock’s addition is the only change to Dan McKellar’s starting side that beat the Sharks in week five.

McKellar has been forced to make several changes on the bench due to injury and unavailability, with prop Mees Erasmus in line for a Super Rugby debut.

Erasmus is joined by the returning Robbie Abel and fellow prop Faalelei Sione whilst Richie Arnold and Tom Cusack provide cover in the lock department and back-row respectively.

There also appears to be plenty in reserve amongst the backs with Matt Lucas, Kyle Godwin and Tom Banks ready to step off the bench and make their mark in a match that is traditionally one of the highlights of the season.

BRUMBIES

1. Scott Sio, 2. Folau Fainga’a, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Rory Arnold, 5. Blake Enever, 6. Lachlan McCaffrey, 7. David Pocock, 8. Isa Naisarani, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Wharenui Hawera, 11. Lausii Taliauli, 12. Christian Leali’ifano, 13. Chris Kuridrani, 14. Henry Speight, 15. Andy Muirhead.
Reserves: 16. Robbie Abel, 17. Faalelei Sione, 18. Mees Erasmus, 19. Richie Arnold, 20. Tom Cusack, 21. Matt Lucas, 22. Kyle Godwin, 23. Tom Banks.

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Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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